The Rake's Redemption. Georgina Devon

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СКАЧАТЬ looked at the brother she loved in spite of his faults and wondered when the boy who had shown her how to trout fish and joined her in madcap escapades had changed to the man standing before her. This man was weak, and he blamed others for his situation instead of himself. Regret filled her heart for what Bertram had become.

      ‘We had this discussion at the time, Bertram. I did what I thought best.’ She did not want to continue in this vein. It led nowhere. ‘Now, I am going to bed.’

      Even as he opened his mouth to continue, she turned her back to him. When she heard his voice, she ignored it and went up to the next floor and her room. Tomorrow would be a long day with Amy to curtail and Bertram’s gambling to worry about.

      Emma looked up from her third cup of hot chocolate, one of her few indulgences, as Gordon, the butler, entered the breakfast room. She smiled at the old man who had begun service with her family as a footman and was now at the pinnacle of achievement.

      ‘Yes, Gordon?’

      ‘Miss Stockton, you remember requesting us to keep an eye on Miss Amy?’

      Emma set the half-empty china cup down and carefully folded her hands in her lap. Something had happened which she would not like.

      ‘Yes, I do.’ She was glad her voice sounded calm when she really wanted to scream in frustration.

      ‘Well, Miss Amy has just sent one of the hired kitchen girls on an errand.’

      ‘Do you know what kind?’

      The butler shook his grizzled head. ‘No, Miss. The girl was gone when Cook told me. Seems Miss Amy got to the girl just as Cook entered the kitchen to prepare your breakfast.’

      Neither he nor Cook could question Amy. Emma sighed. ‘Where is Amy now?’

      ‘I believe she went back to her room.’

      ‘No doubt back to bed. It’s very early considering the time we returned last night.’

      She rose and dusted toast crumbs from her plain black bombazine dress. She had bought it the first year after Mama’s passing. It was still in too good a condition for her to be rid of it, although the harsh lines and dark colour were not the most flattering for her.

      ‘Thank you, Gordon.’ She went past him into the small hallway and made her way to the stairs before stopping. ‘Is my brother at home?’

      ‘Yes, Miss. I believe Master Bertram is sleeping.’ He cleared his throat, an unconscious habit he had when he thought he should say something but didn’t want to.

      She would help him. ‘Did my brother come in several hours ago?’

      ‘Yes,’ Gordon murmured.

      She wasn’t surprised. She had expected Bertram to go out after their talk last night. In fact, she would have been shocked had he not.

      ‘Thank you again, Gordon.’ Somehow she found a smile for him, knowing it was weak but the best she could do.

      Emma turned back to the stairs and mounted them slowly, keeping her back straight even though it felt as though the weight of the world rested on her. She was not surprised by anything the butler had told her. Both her siblings had acted just as she expected them to. But the consequences of their actions would make life more complicated for her.

      When she had promised Mama that she would care for them and Papa, come what may, she had never expected it to be this difficult. Now all she could do was her best.

      Emma rapped on Amy’s door. When there was no answer, she entered. She was in no mood to cater to her sister.

      Amy sat up in bed, her blond curls spread around her shoulders in glorious disarray, her cheeks rosy with excitement and her blue eyes dancing. Emma had no doubt Amy’s note had precipitated something Emma would not like and that Amy would like very well.

      ‘Good morning, Em.’ The younger girl was all innocence.

      Emma moved into the room. ‘Good morning, Amy. I hear you have been to the kitchen.’

      Amy blushed and Emma marvelled at how beautiful her sister was. When Amy refused to look at her, Emma sighed.

      Amy tossed a curl over her shoulder. ‘I went for a bite. I was hungry.’

      Emma made a moue of irritation. ‘Amy, when will you stop these high jinks? I know you gave a note to the hired girl. I am sure you sent it to Charles Hawthorne. I don’t know what you said, but it is not done. Not done at all.’

      Amy’s face paled into obstinacy. ‘You carry on as though Charles Hawthorne can single-handedly ruin all my chances. Really, Em, you worry too much.’

      Emma spluttered in her sudden anger. ‘You do not worry enough!’

      ‘Pooh!’ Amy threw back the covers and slid out of bed. ‘If you know exactly who I sent the message to, then why are you berating me? I’m surprised you haven’t sent another message telling him to ignore mine.’

      ‘Then you did send it to him.’

      Amy’s attention snapped back to her sister. ‘You didn’t know.’

      Emma shrugged. ‘A calculated guess based on what I know of you. You just confirmed my suspicion. Thank you. Now I shall send a note.’

      ‘Don’t forget,’ Amy said, mimicking her sister’s tone, ‘it isn’t done to send a message to a single man one isn’t related to.’

      ‘You should have remembered that before you put me in this position.’ Emma didn’t try to keep the tartness from her voice. ‘I have had enough of this, Amy. If you don’t behave, I shall tell Father you must return to the country.’

      Amy pulled on her finely woven wool robe, for it was still cool in the mornings, particularly since Emma ordered no fires to be lit in order to save on costs. ‘You know he will not agree. I am the fatted calf.’

      There was only a touch of bitterness in the younger girl’s words, but it was enough to stop Emma. Neither one of them was happy with the position they found themselves in. Neither one of them had created this situation, but both of them were paying for it.

      Emma’s anger melted. Amy was only doing her best to enjoy her first and only London Season. She would be wed all too soon, sacrificed on the altar of gambling.

      Unable to swallow her sorrow for her sister, Emma said, ‘You are too young for this and I wish I could spare you, but I cannot. Just as you are correct in saying Father will not allow me to send you home.’ She went to the door, turning back to say, ‘I will tell Mrs Murphy you are up.’

      Emma left, feeling worse than when she’d arrived. Added to that was the requirement to send a note to Charles Hawthorne telling him not to do or respond to whatever was in Amy’s note. One complication after another.

      In her room, Emma sat down at the scratched and stained writing desk and pulled a piece of thick paper from the drawer. The note to Charles Hawthorne was not easy. Several copies later, she was satisfied enough to sand the sheet before folding it into a twist. She would give it to a footman СКАЧАТЬ